Power comb



P. MARS 3,461,883 POWER COMB I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug- 1966 INVENTOR I PETER M AR|s BY Q )v-KM ATTORNEY PQZMARIS POWER COMB Aug. 19, 1969 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Aug 4, 1966 FIG. 9

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,461,883 POWER COMB Peter Maris, St. Louis County, M0. (750 Harvard Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63130) Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 570,308 Int. Cl. A45d 24/14 US. Cl. 132-11 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A power hair comb apparatus, having a casing, a prime mover having a drive shaft contained therein; the casing has an annular opening through which the shaft projects in close proximity to the periphery of the annular opening, being supported there by a ring-like member. In another embodiment, the comb and shaft project through a lower front end wall for motion in a vertical plane.

This invention relates in general to grooming implements, and, more particularly, to a power comb.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a motor driven comb for effective hair treatment such as, for instance, in teasing of the hair for development of a selected styling.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power comb which is designed to cause the comb to describe a circular path or a reciprocating path for beneficial hair treatment and with obviation of labor on the part of the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power comb which is compact and light weight, being adapted for ease of portability and usage by the individual or by a hair stylist.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a power comb which may be most economically produced, which may be utilized without requiring developed skill on the part of the user; which is comprised of a simplicity of parts so as to be resistant to breakdown; and which is durable and reliable in usage.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (2-sheets), where- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a power comb constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the power comb with a portion being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are each taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and illustrate sequential positions of the comb support rod during operation of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partially in section, illustrating the comb support stabilizing ring.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of another form of power comb constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURES 11, 12, and 13 are each taken substantially on the line 1010 of FIGURE 9, and illustrate sequential positions of the comb support during operation of the power comb illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present in- Patented Aug. 19, 1969 ice vention, A generally designates a power comb comprising a generally cylindrical casing 1, which may be of two-part construction to permit ease of access to the interior as for maintenance purposes. Said casing 1 is enclosed at its normally rearward end 2 and in its opposite or forward portion includes a tapered extension designated generally 3, having a circular opening 4 at its outer end. The rearward end of said tapered extension 3 is defined by a transverse wall 5 which serves to demarcate a rearward chamber 6 and a forward chamber 7, which latter constitutes the interior of extension 3. Chamber 6 is adapted to receive a prime mover M which may be suitably connected to a convenient source of electricity by a lead 8 projecting outwardly through the rearward portion 2 of casing 1, as through a grommet-equipped opening 9.

Prime mover M is provided with a drive shaft 10, which is journalled within a bearing 11 integrally formed in transverse wall 5, and projects at its forward end into forward chamber 7; there being a disc 12 suitably mounted upon the end of said shaft 10 for rotation therewith. Affixed eccentrically upon the forward face of disc 12 is a crank or wrist pin 13 to which is engaged the lower end of a connecting rod 14, the upper end of which is slotted as at 15 for extension therethrough of a headed guide pin 16, which latter is rigidly secured in its rearward portion within wall 5.

The upper portion of tapered extension 3 is bulged upwardly, as at 17, to provide suitable clearance for the upper end of connecting rod 14 during operation of power comb A, as may be more readily noted in FIG- URES 3 to 6, inclusive. Fixed at its rearward end to connecting rod 14, at a point substantially intermediate the lower end of slot 15 and wrist pin 13 is a support rod 18, which projects forwardly through chamber 7 in axially parallel relationship to the "axis of said power comb A. Rod 18 is offset with respect to the access of opening 4 so as to be presented adjacent the edge portion thereof, and extends through an opening 19 formed integrally in a stabilizing ring or annulus 20, the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the inside diameter of opening 4; there being a circumferential bead 21 formed on the outer surface of said ring 20- for reception within a complementarily formed, inwardly opening groove 22 provided on the inner face of the wall of opening 4, said bead 21 is undercut as at 23 so as to assure of retention of engagement within said groove 22.

Ring 20 is adapted to slidingly rotate about the inner face of casing 1 and opening 4. The opening 19 in ring 20 is so designed as to snugly and hence frequently embrace rod 18, so that as the latter is rotated about an axis parallel to its longitudinal axis, said ring 20 will be carried about the inner face of said casing 1 and opening 4. Accordingly, ring 20 serves to maintain rod 18 in appropriate effective attitude, preventing undesired tilting of the same about its axis.

Outwardly of the forward end of casing 1, said support rod 18 is suitable engaged to the normally handle portion of a comb 24. The teeth of which are directed outwardly or away from the axis of power comb A. Said comb A may be provided with a suitable switch 25 for actuation of motor M, and may also be provided with a pivotally mounted handle 26 which latter, if desired, may be connected through convention means to motor M for serving as a switch therefor, so that during operation, the user may readily control energization of comb A as desired.

From the foregoing, the operation of comb A should be evident since upon energization of motor M, shaft 10 will be caused to rotate with consequent rotation of disc 12 and wrist pin 13, resulting in a reciprocating motion being imparted to connecting rod 14 with the action of the latter being suitably controlled.

By the relative movement of guide pin 16 within slot 15, such reciprocating action of connecting rod 14 will cause a circular movement to be imparted to support rod 18, the path described by the same being readily noted by reference to FIGURES 3 to 6, inclusive which illustrates positions of said rod 18 during the sequence of movement. As noted above, the rotation of said rod 18 will cause ring 20 to be rotated, thereby stabilizing said rod 18 as noted.

It will be seen that through operation of power comb A, the comb 24 will be moved through a circular path, so that as the device is presented to the hair by the user, comb 24 will treat the hair in a rhythmic, positive manner for bringing about the particular type of styling desired. Said comb A is easily operated and obviates the experiencing of fatigue by the user as would be encountered through manually applied, repeated combing strokes.

Referring to FIGURES 9 to 13, inclusive, another form of power comb indicated generally A is illustrated which incorporates a cylindrical, preferably two-part casing 1 integrally incorporating a transverse wall 5 for defining the forward limit of a rearward compartment 6, within which is received a prime mover M suitably connectable to a source of electrical power by a lead 8; there being an operating switch 25 and a handle 26 pivotally mounted upon casing 1'; all of said elements being substantially identical in construction to the corresponding elements of power comb A above described. Said transverse wall 5 defines the rearward portion of a forward chamber 30 which incorporates a bottom wall 31, outwardly convex forward wall portion 32, and upwardly projecting upper wall portion 33. Said prime mover M is provided with a drive shaft 16 suitably journalled in a bearing 11 formed in transverse wall 5; said shaft 10 extending into chamber 30 and having a cam 34, carried on its forward end for rotation therewith. Said cam is of general trapezoidal character, having rounded corners for engagement with the inner surfaces of a yoke or cam follower of generally square configuration. Said yoke 35 is provided integrally in its upper portion with an extension 36, having elongated vertical slot 37 for reception therein of a guide pin 37', rigidly fixed in its rearward portion within transverse wall 5. In its lower portion said yoke 35 is integrally associated with an elongated arm 38 coaxial with extension 36 and projecting downwardly within chamber 30 for extension outwardly through an opening 39 formed in lower wall portion 31. Spacedly outwardly of said casing 1, arm 38 mounts an adapter 40 for securely receiving a stem member 41 engaged to a socket 42 projecting from the base 43 of a comb 44. The longitudinal axis of comb 44 is normal to the axis of arm 38, and the teeth 45 being directed away from casing 1.

The operation of power comb A will be readily manifest from a study of the sequential views shown in FIG- URES 10 to 13, inclusive, whereby through the positive motion developed through co-action of cam 34 and yoke 35, said arm 38 will cause to move in a generally annular path for causing the engaged comb 44 to travel through a circular pattern. As is best seen in FIGURES 10 and 12, arm 38 will follow a generally circular path while moving inwardly and outwardly of easing 1 by reason of the unique relationship of cam 34 and yoke 35. This action will thus cause the comb 44 to pleasingly and effectively engage the hair to be treated so as to subject same to a gentle up and down movement which is simultaneously circular. FIGURES 11 and 13 reveal the position of arm 38 at the moment of dwell at the upper and lower limits or the outer and inner limits, as it were, of its circular path of travel. It is evident that by operation of power comb A the user may treat the hair to a rhythmic to-and-fro, in and out action with the resultant desired styling, as well as scalp stimulation.

It is obvious that the invention herein disclosed may be provided with variable speed devices so as to control the rate of periodicity of the combs without departing from the nature of this invention.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the information, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the power comb may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A power comb for hair treatment comprising means providing a casing, a prime mover provided in said casing, means for energizing said prime mover, said casing having an annular opening at one end, an elongated rodlike member projecting through said annular opening, a comb fixed on said rod-like member exteriorly of said casing, means operatively connecting said rod-like member and said prime mover, an annular member mounted within said annular casing opening, said annular member being slidably mounted for rotational movement within said opening, means interengaging said rod-like member and said annular member for stabilizing the former, whereby upon energization of said prime mover said rodlike member and comb will be rotated in a nonoscillatory circular path.

2. A power comb for hair treatment comprising means providing a casing, a prime mover provided in said casing, means for energizing said prime mover, said casing having an annular opening at one end, an elongated rodlike member projecting through said annular opening defined by an annular side wall portion, a comb fixed on said rod-like member exteriorly of said casing, means operatively connecting said rod-like member and said prime mover, a ring-like member mounted on said annular side wall portion of said annular casing opening for rotational slidable movement about said side wall portion, means interengaging said rod-like member and said ringlike member for stabilizing the former, whereby upon energization of said prime mover said rod-like member and comb will be rotated for traveling a nonoscillatory circular path proximate said side wall portion.

3. A power comb as defined in any one of claims 1 and 2 and further characterized by said means for operatively connecting said rod-like member and said prime mover comprising a drive shaft on said prime mover, a disc mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, a crank pin eccentrically mounted on said disc, a crank arm being mounted on said crank pin, and said rod-like member being fixed on said crank.

4. A power comb as defined in any one of claims 1 and 2, and further characterized by said annular member having a circumferential bead provided on its outer face, said casing having about the inner portion of the said opening an annular groove complementarily to said bead for slideably receiving same.

5. A power comb for hair treatment comprising means providing a casing, a prime mover having a drive shaft provided in said casing, said casing having an annular opening at one end, an elongated rod-like member projecting through said opening, the longitudinal axis of said rod-like member being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the prime mover drive shaft, a comb fixed on said rod-like member exteriorly of said casing, means operatively connecting said rod-like member and said prime mover comprising a disc mounted on said drive shaft, a crank arm mounted on said disc and said rod-like member being fixed on said crank at said members inner end, means for supporting said crank arm during operation, an annular member being mounted within said casing opening, said annular member being slideably mounted for rotational movement about said opening, said annular member having a circumferential bead provided on its outer face, said casing having about the inner portion of said opening an annular groove com lementarily to said bead for slideably receiving same, means interengaging said rod-like member and said annular member for stabilizing of the former during rotative movement, and means for energizing said prime mover whereby said rod-like member and comb will be caused to rotate in a nonoscillatory circular path about a center parallel with the longitudinal axis of said member.

6. A power comb as defined in claim 5, and further characterized by said comb having a stern portion fixed on the end of said rod-like member beyond said casing, said comb further having a plurality of hair-engaging teeth for presentation radially outwardly of the axis of said casing opening.

7. A power comb for hair treatment comprising means providing a casing, a prime mover provided in said casing, said casing having an opening located in the lower forward end wall thereof, an elongated rod-like member projecting downwardly through said opening, said prime mover having a drive shaft, means operatively connecting said rod-like member and said prime mover comprising a cam member mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith and a cam follower formed with said rod-like member at said members inner end, said cam member being of trapezoidal configuration having rounded corners, said cam follower being of open quadrilateral configuration having inner surface, said cam member being adapted to engage said inner surfaces of said cam follower, said rod-like member being disposed in axially normal relationship to said drive shaft, a comb fixed on "said rod-like member exteriorly of said casing, means for energizing said prime mover whereby said rod-like memher will be caused to move.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,150,393 9/1964 Taylor et a1. 13211.2 3,204,469 9/1965 Spillers 13211 3,272,023 9/1966 Ferguson et al. 13211.2 3,349,782 10/1967 Sawin 132-l1.2

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner JAMES W. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner 

